Dual feed of transversely disposed tubes



Jan. 10, 1967 J. N. ANDREWS ETAL 3,297,200

DUAL FEED OF TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED TUBES Filed Sept. 1, 1965 F l G. 2

HG. I

TA r ATTORNEY United States Patent Filed Sept. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 484,1793 Claims. (Cl. 221-175) This invention relates to feed mechanisms, andparticularly to mechanism for advancing tubes to a tube beadin g or likemachine.

An object of the invention is to feed tubes to a conveyor apparatus inregular sequence with minimum opportunity afforded for skip, misfeed andthe like.

Another object of the invention is to utilize feed mechanism simple inconstruction and trouble free in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide for continuous sensingfor the presence or absence of tubes in a segment of the tube feedingmechanism.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will appear fromthe following description, when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, of which FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal section, fragmentaryin form and partly diagrammatic, of a feed mechanism in accordance withthe illustrated embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a detail view, partly in cross section, showing the manner inwhich dual feed means advance tubes over a supporting table.

Referring to the drawing, the feed mechanism of the invention isdisclosed as operating as a part of or in conjunction with a tubebeading machine. The machine comprises a stationary frame 11 havingupright portions supporting at one end thereof a shaft 12. The shaft 12mounts a sprocket wheel 13 over which a chain 14 is drawn, the chainencompassing a like sprocket (not shown) at the opposite end of themachine. The chain has mounted thereto a longitudinal series of fingers15 which depend downwardly or at right angles to the chain and areformed with slots 16 assuming in the normal run of the chain a verticalposition. The slots are open at what may be considered their upper endand are closed at their other or bottom ends by bridging flange means17. Each slot is vertically elongated and has front and rear edges whichover a substantial part of their length are parallel and near the bottomof the slot are divergent. Although only one chain 14 and its mountedfingers 15 is shown, the machine provides a pair of such chains inlaterally spaced longitudinally extending positions the-rein, asindicated in FIG. 2. Corresponding finger-s on the respective chains arelaterally aligned with one another and accordingly form sets or pairswherein a tube received in the slot 16 may be supported at its oppositeends in respective opposed fingers.

In closely adjacent overlying relation to the chains 14 is a stationaryplate 18 rigidly supported, as by bracket means 19, upon the frame 11.At what may be considered the forward end thereof, the plate 18 isformed with a transversely extending through slot 21. The slot 21, aswill hereinafter more clearly appear, is adapted to receive and passthe-rethrough a tube to be Worked on in the heading machine. By virtueof rotation of the sprocket wheels 13, the fingers 15 are brought in aseries of indexing steps successively to underlie and to register withthe slot 21. A tube dropping by gravity through the slot 21 accordinglyis received in aligned slots 16 in opposing fingers 15. While the tubemay come to rest in the bottoms of the slots 16, in the illustratedinstance it drops upon a table 22 mounted on a frame supported wall 23and extending a short distance longitudinally between the chains 14 andbetween the fingers 15 carried thereby.

The table 22 extends to the first of a series of rollers 24 disposedcrosswise in the machine transversely of the path of movement of thechains 14. The rollers 24 are mounted on supports 25 and are freelyrotatable. The rollers 24 are arranged in a longitudinal series ofspaced apart members. Disposed between each pair of rollers 24 is a pairof parallel rolls 26 and 27 and an underlying support roll 28. The rolls26 and 27 are rotatively driven in a manner which it is unnecessary hereto consider and are supported by the described support roll 28 and bythe relatively angularly disposed rollers 24.

In the operation of the machine, a tube, for example as indicated at T,drops into the slots 16 of a pair of fingers 15 and comes to rest on thetable 22. Under forward motion of the fingers 15, as the chains 14 runover the sprockets 13, the fingers 15 carry the tube T forwardly, offthe end of the table 22 and onto the described series of rollers. It isallowed to rest in the position shown between the rotatively drivenrollers 26 and 27, this being the end of an indexing step as described.While the tube is held in this manner, and caused to rotate by reason ofthe rotating rolls 26 and 27, beading means descends thereon and indentsthe tube in one or a plurality of longitudinally spaced positionsthereon. It will be understood that the conveyor means, as representedby the chains 14 and fingers 15, operates in a timed relation to theoperation of the described beading means. Thus, the fingers 15 bring atube T to a position of rest between a pair of rollers 26 and 27 andthen stop for an interval before carrying the tube to a next succeedingtube beading station. In such interval the heading means descends andworks the tube as described. Beyond the final station, the fingers 15turn with chain 14 and return along a path beneath the tube beadingstations to the starting point under table 18. In turning, the fingers15 invert and allow the tubes to drop through the open ends of slots 16for collection and removal.

Considering further the feeding mechanism, a plate 29 is mounted in aposition of rest on the stationary plate 18 and is slidable relativethereto, in a sense longitudinal of the machine. The sliding motion ofthe plate 29 is resolved into a reciprocating movement by virtue of itsconnection through a bracket 31 and rod 32 with a pneumaticcylinder 33mounted on the plate 18. By virtue of compressed air supplied toalternate ends of the cylinder 33, the rod 32 is alternately extendedand retracted, resulting in corresponding extending and retractingmovements of the connected sliding plate 29. Near what may be consideredits forward end, the plate 29 is formed with a through transverse slot34. In a fully extended position thereof, the plate 29 limits against astop 35 and in this position of the parts the slot 34 overlies andregisters with the slot 21 in plate 18. In a retracted position of theplate 29, the slot 34 occupies a position, as indicated in dotted lines,out of alignment with slot 21 and immediately beneath the bottom of achute 36. The slot 34 thus has alternate positions of adjustment whereinit is respectively aligned with the stationary slot 21 and with thebottom of chute 36.

The chute 36 extends generally vertically in the machine and issupported by means including a block 37 at its lower end and a block 38at its upper end, the latter projecting from an inclined stationarysupport 39. The chute is comprised essentially of front and back plates41 and 42 disposed transversely of the machine and spaced relativelyclosely together so as to accommodate tubes T with but slight clearanceto either side thereof. In the mid portion of the plates 41 and 42 arealigned vertically elongated openings 43 and 44. The chute 36 is openended at its top and bottom. The bottom end,

however, substantially rests upon the sliding plate 29 and i is closedthereby except when slot 34 is brought to registry with the chute. Theupper end of the chute extends to a bearing block 45 where it registerswith a slot 46 extending substantially radially from a transversecylindrical bore 47 therein. The latter is occupied by a cylindricalrotor 48 and in the upper part thereof bore 47 opens through the bearingblock 45 in a manner relatively to project an upper circumferential areaof rotor 48. The described projecting portion of rotor 48 is received inthe bottom of a hopper 49 suitably supported by bearing block 45 and bya wall 51 mounted to stationary parts of the frame as by an uprightbracket 52. The hopper 49 receives tubes T from a larger place ofstorage 53 through a connecting trough 54. The tubes are, as indicated,horizontally disposed in the hopper 49 and occupy multiple layers. Thebottom of the hopper is inclined, as by an angular surface 55 and by arounded surface 56 in a manner to direct tubes at the bottom of thestacked assembly in the hopper to the projecting surface of rotor 48.The latter is formed with a circumferential series of longitudinallyextending grooves 57 of a size to receive a single tube T therein.

The rotor 48 is adapted to turn about its axis and this motion issuitably provided for to give such member motion as described either ina continuous rotating sense or in intermittent incremental steps.

The operation of the feeding mechanism will be largely self evident.Rotary motion of the cylindrical member 48 results in single tubes beingselectively Withdrawn from the bottom of hopper 49 by virtue of beingreceived in a groove 57. The tubes are carried in the grooves 57 aroundthe surface of bore 47 until they register with slot 46 in the bearingblock 45. They drop by gravity into such slot and continue to move undergravity influence into the open upper end of chute 35. The first suchtube so delivered drops to the bottom of chute 36 and comes to rest onthe sliding plate 29. Subsequent tubes'come to rest on top of oneanother, building up a single row of stacked tubes within the chute asindicated. When the sliding plate 29 is put in operation, and begun toreciprocate between its extended and retracted positions as described,the slot 34 makes repeated trips between the bottom of chute 36 and theslot 21 in underlying plate 18. In so doing, it receives the bottommosttube in chute 36 and carries it forwardly to a position of registry withslot 21. Thereupon the tube drops out of slot 34 and through slot 21into the embrace of fingers 15 as before described. The bottom of chute36 lies closely adjacent to the surface of plate 29 so that the tubes Tare confined within the chute except when slot 34 registers therewith.Similarly, the plate 29 is in close intimately contacting relation tothe plate 18 so that tubes carried by slot 34 are unable to move out ofsuch slot until it aligns with slot 21.

The described openings 43 and 44 in the chute 36 are used for sensingthe presence or absence of tubes within the chute at a selected level.This sensing may be done visually and the chute appropriately marked sothat when the column of tubes therein reaches a predetermined heightoperation of cylindrical member 48 may 'be discontinued. In theillustrated instance, however, the sensing is carried outelectronically. A photo electric cell 58 is disposed to have a beam oflight cast thereon from a source 59. The light beam passes through thechute at the intermediate location represented by openings 43 and 44.The light beam is interrupted by the presence of a tube T at the planeof such beam. In accordance with one mode of use of such an arrangement,the cell 58 may be disposed in an electrical circuit lwhereby rotationof rotor 48 continues as long as cell 58 is energized and isdiscontinued upon deenergizing of the cell. In accordance with this modeof operation, movement of the member 48 is intermittent, being startedeach time a tube is withdrawn from the bottom of chute 36 and beingdiscontinued when that tube is replaced at the top of the containedcolumn.

While the buildup of tubes within the chute 36 has been describedas-occurring due to a starting of cylinder 33 subsequent to operation ofcylindrical rotor 48 a preferred mode of operation provides that the twomay be started as a part of the same operation, with the rotor 48feeding tubes into the chute 36 at a somewhat faster rate than they arewithdrawn by the plate 29. Thus, reciprocation of the plate 29 is partof what may be termed a machine operation and occurs in a synchronous,timed relation to advance of the fingers 15. Rotary stepping of themember 48, however, is an independent operation which may be regulatedby a timer in an electrical circuit opened by interruption of the lightbeam cast on cell 58.

What is claimed is:

1. Feed mechanism in a tube working machine, including continuouslymoving conveyor means, a stationary plate overlying said conveyor meansand having a slot through which a tube may drop through said stationaryplate on to said conveyor means, a reciprocable plate slidable on saidstationary plate and having a through slot therein which at one end ofits reciprocating stroke overlies and is aligned with the slot in saidstationary plate, an open ended chute carrying tubes stacked one uponanother, said chute rising generally vertically above the plane ofmovement of said reciprocable plate and having its lower end positionedto align with the slot in said reciprocating plate at the other end ofits reciprocating stroke, means for introducing tubes into the upper endof said chute, said tubes descending by gravity through said chute anddropping one at a time into the slot in said reciprocable plate onsuccessive strokes thereof, the lower end of said chute being of a sizeto pass only a single tube and terminating in such proximate relation tosaid reciprocable plate as to be closed thereby except when said slot insaid reciprocable plate is aligned therewith, said reciprocable platebeing in such proximate relation to said stationary plate as to closethe bottom of said slot in said reciprocable plate except when alignedwith the slot in said stationary plate, said conveyor means includingdual transversely spaced sets of longitudinally spaced apart fingers,corresponding fingers of the dual sets aligning with one another, eachfinger having a vertically elongated slot open at its top and closed atits bottom and having front and rear edges which are parallel over asubstantial part of their length and divergent near the bottom of theslot, said fingers being conducted successively beneath the slot in saidstationary plate each to receive in its upper end a tube falling bygravity therethrough, and a table disposed between said dual sets tointercept said tubes prior to their dropping to the bottom of saidslots, the tube having a length to exceed the width of the table, saidfingers carrying said tubes lengthwise along said table in response tomovement of said conveyor means.

2. Feed mechanism in a tube working machine, including continuouslymoving dual transversely spaced sets of conveyor means, each of saidconveyor means including longitudinally spaced apart fingers each havinga vertically elongated slot open at its top and closed at its bottom andhaving front and rear edges which are parallel over a substantial partof their length and which are divergent near the bottom of the slot,corresponding fingers of dual sets being aligned, a stationary plateoverlying said conveyor means and having a slot through which a tube maydrop through said stationary plate, said fingers being conductedsuccessively beneath the slot in said stationary plate to receive intheir upper ends a tube falling by gravity therethrough, the oppositeends of a tube being received by aligned fingers of the dual sets, saidtubes being carried by said conveyor means with freedom of verticalmovement in said slots, and means for bringing tubes one at a time tosaid slot in said stationary plate to drop therethrough as described.

3. Dual feed mechanism in a tube working machine or the like, includinga pair of conveyor means of longitudinal extent in a transversely spacedapart relation to one another, each said conveyor means includinglongitudinally spaced apart fingers, corresponding fingers of the pairof conveyor means being aligned with one another, each of said fingershaving a slot opening through the upper end of the finger and closed atthe bottom, means for dropping tubes one at a time upon said conveyormeans, the ends of a tube being received in the open upper ends of theslots in aligned fingers and the tubes tending to drop by gravity to thebottoms of such slots, and a table disposed between said conveyor meansin a plane to intercept tubes dropping into the slots in said conveyor,the tubes having a length to exceed the width of said table whereby theopposite ends of the tubes may engage with said fingers and be advancedover said table into the tube working machine, the machine affordingtube working stations to which the tubes are delivered by said table,the slots in said fingers allowing said tubes to rise and fall in saidfingers which being worked in said stations while remaining in saidfingers for advancement therewith.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 245,408 8/1881Sheldon 221- 1,507,999 9/1924 Hubbard 221281 1,606,834 11/1926 Halank221-236 2,134,832 11/1938 Morrison 198-131 2,571,576 10/1951 Hopkins etal 221-277 3,026,003 3/1962 Edels et al. 221-225 3,206,065 9/1965 Netta221-225 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,371 4/ 1899 Great Britain.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

WALTER SOBIN, Examiner.

1. FEED MECHANISM IN A TUBE WORKING MACHINE, INCLUDING CONTINUOUSLYMOVING CONVEYOR MEANS, A STATIONARY PLATE OVERLYING SAID CONVEYOR MEANSAND HAVING A SLOT THROUGH WHICH A TUBE MAY DROP THROUGH SAID STATIONARYPLATE ON TO SAID CONVEYOR MEANS, A RECIPROCABLE PLATE SLIDABLE ON SAIDSTATIONARY PLATE AND HAVING A THROUGH SLOT THEREIN WHICH AT ONE END OFITS RECIPROCATING STROKE OVERLIES AND IS ALIGNED WITH THE SLOT IN SAIDSTATIONARY PLATE, AN OPEN ENDED CHUTE CARRYING TUBES STACKED ONE UPONANOTHER, SAID CHUTE RISING GENERALLY VERTICALLY ABOVE THE PLANE OFMOVEMENT OF SAID RECIPROCABLE PLATE AND HAVING ITS LOWER END POSITIONEDTO ALIGN WITH THE SLOT IN SAID RECIPROCATING PLATE AT THE OTHER END OFITS RECIPROCATING STROKE, MEANS FOR INTRODUCING TUBES INTO THE UPPER ENDOF SAID CHUTE, SAID TUBES DESCENDING BY GRAVITY THROUGH SAID CHUTE ANDDROPPING ONE AT A TIME INTO THE SLOT IN SAID RECIPROCABLE PLATE ONSUCCESSIVE STROKES THEREOF, THE LOWER END OF SAID CHUTE BEING OF A SIZETO PASS ONLY A SINGLE TUBE AND TERMINATING IN SUCH PROXIMATE RELATION TOSAID RECIPROCABLE PLATE AS TO BE CLOSED THEREBY EXCEPT WHEN SAID SLOT INSAID RECIPROCABLE PLATE IS ALIGNED THEREWITH, SAID RECIPROCABLE PLATEBEING IN SUCH PROXIMATE RELATION TO SAID STATIONARY PLATE AS TO CLOSETHE BOTTOM OF SAID SLOT IN SAID RECIPROCABLE PLATE EXCEPT WHEN ALIGNEDWITH THE SLOT IN SAID STATIONARY PLATE, SAID CONVEYOR MEANS INCLUDINGDUAL TRANSVERSELY SPACED SETS OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED APART FINGERS,CORRESPONDING FINGERS OF THE DUAL SETS ALIGNING WITH ONE ANOTHER, EACHFINGER HAVING A VERTICALLY ELONGATED SLOT OPEN AT ITS TOP AND CLOSED ATITS BOTTOM AND HAVING FRONT AND REAR EDGES WHICH ARE PARALLEL OVER ASUBSTANTIAL PART OF THEIR LENGTH AND DIVERGENT NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THESLOT, SAID FINGERS BEING CONDUCTED SUCCESSIVELY BENEATH THE SLOT IN SAIDSTATIONARY PLATE EACH TO RECEIVE IN ITS UPPER END A TUBE FALLING BYGRAVITY THERETHROUGH, AND A TABLE DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID DUAL SETS TOINTERCEPT SAID TUBES PRIOR TO THEIR DROPPING TO THE BOTTOM OF SAIDSLOTS, THE TUBE HAVING A LENGTH TO EXCEED THE WIDTH OF THE TABLE, SAIDFINGERS CARRYING SAID TUBES LENGTHWISE ALONG SAID TABLE IN RESPONSE TOMOVEMENT OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS.